U.S. patent application number 13/551806 was filed with the patent office on 2012-11-08 for method, system and apparatus for alternate data service provisioning.
This patent application is currently assigned to Research In Motion Limited. Invention is credited to George Baldwin Bumiller.
Application Number | 20120281617 13/551806 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39360305 |
Filed Date | 2012-11-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120281617 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bumiller; George Baldwin |
November 8, 2012 |
Method, System and Apparatus for Alternate Data Service
Provisioning
Abstract
A method, system and apparatus for providing an alternate data
service to a mobile communication device. The apparatus includes a
logic module operable to identify a wireless network accessible by
the mobile communication device, a logic module operable to
determine whether a packet data service is available to the mobile
communication device via the wireless network and a logic module
operable to effectuate an alternate data service when the packet
data service is unavailable to the mobile communication device via
the wireless network.
Inventors: |
Bumiller; George Baldwin;
(Ramsey, NJ) |
Assignee: |
Research In Motion Limited
Waterloo
CA
|
Family ID: |
39360305 |
Appl. No.: |
13/551806 |
Filed: |
July 18, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11593436 |
Nov 6, 2006 |
8249628 |
|
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13551806 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
370/315 ;
370/328 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 48/18 20130101;
H04L 69/40 20130101; H04W 4/00 20130101; H04W 88/06 20130101; H04W
92/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
370/315 ;
370/328 |
International
Class: |
H04W 48/16 20090101
H04W048/16; H04W 4/14 20090101 H04W004/14; H04W 60/00 20090101
H04W060/00 |
Claims
1. A method operable on a mobile communication device, comprising:
responsive to identifying an accessible wireless network, sending a
registration message to a relay node, the registration message
indicating whether or not a packet data service is currently
available; and configuring the mobile communication device for one
of regular data service and alternate data service, in dependence
on whether or not the packet data service is currently available,
said alternate data service having more limited transmission
characteristics than said regular data service.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said more limited transmission
characteristics includes limiting block size in data transmissions
from the mobile communication device.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein said more limited transmission
characteristics includes modifying or deferring transmission of
attachments.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein said more limited transmission
characteristics includes at least one of deferring provision of
browsing capability, restrictions on the synchronization of data,
and blocking user-generated messages.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein said alternate data service is
provided via Unstructured Supplementary Services Data (USSD)
messaging.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising if packet data service
becomes available via the wireless network while the mobile
communication device is configured for alternate data service,
sending a further registration message to the relay node indicating
that said packet data service is available and configuring the
mobile communication device for regular data service.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising gathering operating
statistics relating to usage of packet data service and alternate
data service.
8. A mobile communication device, comprising: a processor operably
coupled to a communication subsystem and a memory; a module
operable, responsive to identifying an accessible wireless network,
to send a registration message to a relay node, the registration
message indicating whether or not a packet data service is
currently available; and a module operable to configure the mobile
communication device for one of regular data service and alternate
data service, depending on whether or not the packet data service
is currently available, said alternate data service having more
limited transmission characteristics than said regular data
service; wherein the modules comprise one of hardware, firmware and
software stored in the memory.
9. The mobile communication device of claim 8 wherein said limited
transmission characteristic includes at least one of limiting block
size in data transmissions from the mobile communication device and
blocking user-generated messages.
10. The mobile communication device of claim 8 wherein said limited
transmission characteristic includes at least one of deferring
provision of browsing capability and restrictions on the
synchronization of data.
11. The mobile communication device of claim 8 further comprising
if packet data service becomes available via the wireless network
while the mobile communication device is configured for alternate
data service, sending a further registration message to the relay
node indicating that said packet data service is available and
configuring the mobile communication device for regular data
service.
12. A method operable at a network node, comprising: receiving a
registration message from a mobile communication device, the
registration message indicating whether or not a packet data
service is currently available to the mobile communication device;
and configuring data service for the mobile communication device
for one of regular data service and alternate data service, in
dependence on whether or not the packet data service is currently
available to the mobile communication device, said alternate data
service having more limited transmission characteristics than said
regular data service.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein said more limited transmission
characteristics includes limiting block size in data transmissions
to the mobile communication device.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein said more limited transmission
characteristics includes modifying or deferring transmission of
attachments to the mobile communication device.
15. The method of claim 12 wherein said more limited transmission
characteristics includes at least one of deferring provision of
browsing capability and restricting synchronization of data.
16. The method of claim 12 further comprising, on receipt of a
further registration message indicating that packet data service is
now available to the mobile communication device, configuring data
service for the mobile communication device via regular data
service.
17. The method of claim 12 further comprising gathering operating
statistics relating to usage of packet data service and alternate
data service.
18. The method of claim 12 wherein said alternate data service is
provided via Unstructured Supplementary Services Data (USSD)
messaging.
Description
PRIORITY UNDER 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119(e) & 37 C.F.R.
.sctn.1.78
[0001] This non-provisional application is a continuation
application claiming the benefit of the following prior United
States patent application having the same name and filed Nov. 6,
2006, application Ser. No. 11/593,436, which is hereby incorporated
by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE APPLICATION
[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to wireless packet
data service networks. More particularly, and not by way of any
limitation, the present disclosure is directed to a mobile
communication device and related data service network employing a
method, apparatus and system for providing an alternate data
service to the mobile communication device.
BACKGROUND
[0003] The present disclosure is directed toward the provisioning
and management of wireless data service with respect to a mobile
communication device. When it is available, a mobile communication
device will generally use packet data service for communication of
packetized data. This data may include, for example, electronic
messages and periodic updates to Personal Information Manager (PIM)
data, but could potentially include a number of types of non-voice
and voice data communications between a mobile communication device
and the outside world. An example of packet data service is GPRS,
but other packet data service networks are employed for such
purposes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] A more complete understanding of the embodiments of the
present disclosure may be had by reference to the following
Detailed Description when taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings wherein:
[0005] FIG. 1A depicts an exemplary network environment including a
wireless service network wherein an embodiment of the present
disclosure may be practiced;
[0006] FIG. 1B depicts a detail view of an exemplary network
environment wherein an embodiment of the present disclosure may be
practiced;
[0007] FIG. 2 depicts a software architectural view of a mobile
communication device operable to communicate within a wireless
service network according to one embodiment;
[0008] FIG. 3 depicts a block diagram of a mobile communication
device operable to communicate within a wireless service network
according to one embodiment;
[0009] FIG. 4 depicts a schematic view of a wireless network
operable to provide alternate data service according to one
embodiment;
[0010] FIG. 5 depicts a state diagram illustrating alternate data
service provisioning states according to one embodiment;
[0011] FIG. 6 depicts a flow chart illustrating alternate data
service provisioning according to one embodiment; and
[0012] FIG. 7 depicts a flow chart illustrating alternate data
service provisioning according to one embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] A system, method, and apparatus of the present disclosure
will now be described with reference to various examples of how the
embodiments can best be made and used. Identical reference numerals
are used throughout the description and several views of the
drawings to indicate identical or corresponding parts, wherein the
various elements are not necessarily drawn to scale.
[0014] The present disclosure relates to an apparatus, method and
system for providing an alternate data service with respect to a
mobile communication device. According to a first aspect, the
present disclosure relates to a method of provisioning data service
to a mobile communication device. The method includes identifying a
wireless network accessible by the mobile communication device;
determining whether a packet data service is available to the
mobile communication device via the wireless network; and
configuring the mobile communication device to use an alternate
data service when the packet data service is unavailable to the
mobile communication device via the wireless network.
[0015] In certain embodiments, the method includes automatically
upgrading to packet data service if packet data service becomes
available. In certain embodiments, the method includes modifying of
data transfer characteristics depending on whether communication is
occurring via packet data service or alternate data service. In
certain embodiments, the method includes providing the alternate
using Unstructured Supplementary Services Data (USSD) messaging. In
certain embodiments, the method includes providing a notice from
the mobile communication device to a relay node that packet data
service is currently unavailable. In certain embodiments, the
method includes gathering operating statistics relating to usage of
packet data service and alternate data service. In certain
embodiments, the method includes activating the alternate data
service over an additional wireless network accessible to the
mobile communication device.
[0016] According to a second aspect, the present disclosure relates
to a system for provisioning data service to a mobile communication
device. The system includes means for determining whether a packet
data service is available to the mobile communication device via a
wireless network and means for effectuating service logic in the
mobile communication device for facilitating an alternate data
service when the packet data service is unavailable to the mobile
communication device via the wireless network.
[0017] According to a third aspect, the present disclosure relates
to a mobile communication device comprising a logic module operable
to identify a wireless network accessible by the mobile
communication device; a logic module operable to determine whether
a packet data service is available to the mobile communication
device via the wireless network; and a logic module operable to
effectuate an alternate data service when the packet data service
is unavailable to the mobile communication device via the wireless
network.
[0018] According to a fourth aspect, the present disclosure relates
to a network node for facilitating data service to a mobile
communication device disposed within a local wireless network. The
network node comprises a packet data server operable to provide
data to the mobile communication device via a packet data service
whenever the packet data service is available via the local
wireless network and an alternate data server operable to provide
data to the mobile communication device via an alternate data
service whenever the packet data service is unavailable via the
local wireless network.
[0019] Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG.
1A, depicted therein is an exemplary network environment 100
including a wireless data service network 112 wherein an embodiment
of the present system may be practiced. An enterprise network 102,
which may be a packet-switched network, can include one or more
geographic sites and be organized as a local area network (LAN),
wide area network (WAN) or metropolitan area network (MAN), et
cetera, for serving a plurality of corporate users.
[0020] A number of application servers 104-1 through 104-N disposed
as part of the enterprise network 102 are operable to provide or
effectuate a host of internal and external services such as email,
video mail, Internet access, corporate data access, messaging,
calendaring and scheduling, information management, and the like.
Accordingly, a diverse array of personal information appliances
such as desktop computers, laptop computers, palmtop computers, et
cetera, although not specifically shown in FIG. 1A, may be operably
networked to one or more of the application servers 104-i, i=1, 2,
. . . , N, with respect to the services supported in the enterprise
network 102.
[0021] Additionally, a remote services server 106 may be interfaced
with the enterprise network 102 for enabling a corporate user to
access or effectuate any of the services from a remote location
using a suitable mobile communication device 116. A secure
communication link with end-to-end encryption may be established
that is mediated through an external IP network, i.e., a public
packet-switched network such as the Internet 108, as well as the
wireless packet data service network 112 operable with mobile
communication device 116 via suitable wireless network
infrastructure that includes a base station (BS) 114. In one
embodiment, a trusted relay network 110 may be disposed between the
Internet 108 and the infrastructure of wireless service network
112. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that relay network
110 may comprise a single relay node 404 or may comprise a
plurality of interconnected relay nodes. Alternatively, the
functionality of the trusted relay network 110 may be integrated
within the infrastructure of wireless network 112. By way of
example, mobile communication device 116 may be a data-enabled
handheld device capable of receiving and sending messages, web
browsing, interfacing with corporate application servers, et
cetera.
[0022] For purposes of the present disclosure, the wireless service
network 112 may be implemented in any known or heretofore unknown
mobile communications technologies and network protocols. For
instance, the wireless service network 112 may be comprised of a
General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network that provides a packet
radio access for mobile devices using the cellular infrastructure
of a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)-based carrier
network. In other implementations, the wireless service network 112
may comprise an Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE)
network, an Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN), a Code
Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, a High Speed Downlink
Packet Access (HSDPA) network or any 3rd Generation (3G) network.
By way of providing an exemplary embodiment, the teachings of the
present disclosure will be illustrated with a GPRS-based carrier
network, although those skilled in the art should readily recognize
that the scope of the present disclosure is not limited
thereby.
[0023] A single desktop computer 122 and mobile communication
device 124 are shown connected to internet 108 for purposes of
illustration. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that
millions of devices are in fact connected to the internet 108, as
discussed above with respect to enterprise network 102. These
include, but are not limited to, desktop computers, laptop
computers, palmtop computers, cellular telephones, personal digital
assistants and other mobile communication devices.
[0024] FIG. 1B depicts additional details of an exemplary wireless
service network operable with a mobile communication device in
accordance with one embodiment. As illustrated, reference numeral
150 refers to a GPRS network operable as the wireless packet data
service network with respect to mobile communication device 116
that is provided with a number of data-centric user applications
152 such as, e.g., web browsing 154, email 156, calendar 158,
contacts 160. As noted above, base station 114 serves mobile
communication device 116 via the air interface using applicable
radio layer protocols. As is well known, GPRS uses a
packet-switching technique to transfer both high-speed and
low-speed data and signaling in an efficient manner over GSM radio
networks. Packet switching means that GPRS radio resources are used
only when users are actually sending or receiving data. Rather than
dedicating a radio channel to a mobile data user, e.g., mobile
communication device 116, for a fixed period of time, the available
radio channels can be concurrently shared between several users.
Therefore, GPRS is designed to support from intermittent and bursty
data transfers (e.g., web browsing) to occasional transmission of
large volumes of data (e.g., FTP). Allocation of GPRS radio
channels can be flexible: from 1 to 8 radio interface timeslots can
be allocated per one Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) frame.
Typically, timeslots are shared by the active users, and uplinks
and downlinks are allocated separately. Various radio channel
coding schemes are available to allow a range of data bit transfer
rates.
[0025] Two additional network nodes are provided within a GSM
network in order to implement a packet-switched data transfer
service. A Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) 170, which is coupled
to a Home Location Register (HLR) 172 and disposed at the same
hierarchical level as a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) of the
circuit-switched cellular network (not shown), is operably coupled
to base station 114 and keeps track of the location of a GPRS user
such as the user of mobile communication device 116. Further, SGSN
170 is responsible for performing security functions and handling
access control with respect to mobile communication device 116. A
Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) 174 provides interworking with the
internet 108, and is operably coupled to one or more SGSNs, e.g.,
SGSN 170, via an IP-based GPRS backbone network.
[0026] In order to access the packet data service, mobile
communication device 116 makes its presence known to the network by
performing what is known as a GPRS Attach. Thereafter, to send and
receive packet data, mobile communication device 116 activates the
packet data address that it wants to use. This operation renders
mobile communication device 116 "visible" in the corresponding
GGSN, and interworking with external data networks can then begin.
User data is transferred transparently between mobile communication
device 116 and the external data networks with a method known as
encapsulation and tunneling wherein data packets are equipped with
GPRS-specific protocol information and transferred transparently
between mobile communication device 116 and GGSN 174.
[0027] FIG. 2 depicts a software architectural view of a mobile
communication device according to one embodiment. A multi-layer
transport stack (TS) 206 is operable to provide a generic data
transport protocol for any type of corporate data, including email,
via a reliable, secure and seamless continuous connection to a
wireless service network. As illustrated in this embodiment, an
integration layer 204A is operable as an interface between the
radio layer 202 and the transport stack 206 of mobile communication
device 116. Likewise, another integration layer 204B is provided
for interfacing between the transport stack 206 and the user
applications 152 supported on the mobile communication device 116,
e.g., email 156, calendar/scheduler 158, contact management 160 and
browser 154. Although not specifically shown, the transport stack
206 may also be interfaced with the operating system of mobile
communication device 116. In another implementation, the transport
stack 206 may be provided as part of a data communications client
module operable as a host-independent virtual machine on a mobile
device. An alternate data interface module 216 and a packet data
service monitor 218 are operably connected to transport stack 206.
Alternate data interface module 216 and packet data service monitor
218 work in concert to identify when packet data service is
unavailable to mobile communication device 116 and to provide an
alternate data service to mobile communication device 116 when such
unavailability occurs. The manner of operation of alternate data
service module 216 and packet data service monitor 218 are
discussed in further detail below.
[0028] The bottom layer (Layer 1) of the transport stack 206 is
operable as an interface to the wireless network's packet layer.
Layer 1 handles basic service coordination within the exemplary
network environment 100 shown in FIG. 1A. For example, when a
mobile communication device roams from one carrier network to
another, Layer 1 verifies that the packets are relayed to the
appropriate wireless network and that any packets that are pending
from the previous network are rerouted to the current network. The
top layer (Layer 4) exposes various application interfaces to the
services supported on the mobile communication device. The
remaining two layers of the transport stack 206, Layer 2 and Layer
3, are responsible for datagram segmentation/reassembly and
security, compression and routing, respectively.
[0029] FIG. 3 depicts a block diagram of a mobile communication
device according to one embodiment. It will be recognized by those
skilled in the art upon reference hereto that although an
embodiment of mobile communication device 116 may comprise an
arrangement similar to one shown in FIG. 3, there can be a number
of variations and modifications, in hardware, software or firmware,
with respect to the various modules depicted. Accordingly, the
arrangement of FIG. 3 should be taken as illustrative rather than
limiting with respect to the embodiments of the present
disclosure.
[0030] A microprocessor 302 providing for the overall control of an
embodiment of mobile communication device 116 is operably coupled
to a communication subsystem 304 which includes a receiver 308 and
transmitter 314 as well as associated components such as one or
more local oscillator (LO) modules 310 and a processing module such
as a digital signal processor 312. As will be apparent to those
skilled in the field of communications, the particular design of
the communication module 304 may be dependent upon the
communications network with which the mobile communication device
116 is intended to operate.
[0031] In one embodiment, the communication module 304 is operable
with both voice and data communications. Regardless of the
particular design, however, signals received by antenna 306 through
base station 114 are provided to receiver 308, which may perform
such common receiver functions as signal amplification, frequency
down conversion, filtering, channel selection, analog-to-digital
(A/D) conversion, and the like. Similarly, signals to be
transmitted are processed, including modulation and encoding, for
example, by digital signal processor 312, and provided to
transmitter 314 for digital-to-analog (D/A) conversion, frequency
up conversion, filtering, amplification and transmission over the
air-radio interface via antenna 316.
[0032] Microprocessor 302 also interfaces with further device
subsystems such as auxiliary input/output (I/O) 318, serial port
320, display 322, keyboard 324, speaker 326, microphone 328, random
access memory (RAM) 330, a short-range communications subsystem
332, and any other device subsystems generally labeled as reference
numeral 333. To control access, a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)
or Removable User Identity Module (RUIM) interface 334 is also
provided in communication with the microprocessor 302.
[0033] In one implementation, SIM/RUIM interface 334 is operable
with a SIM/RUIM card having a number of key configurations 344 and
other information 346 such as identification and subscriber-related
data. Operating system software and transport stack software may be
embodied in a persistent storage module (i.e., non-volatile
storage) such as Flash memory 335. In one implementation, flash
memory 335 may be segregated into different areas, e.g., storage
area for computer programs 336 as well as data storage regions such
as device state 337, address book 339, other personal information
manager (PIM) data 341, and other data storage areas generally
labeled as reference numeral 343. Alternate data interface module
216 and packet data service monitor 218 are also shown disposed
within flash memory 335, although those of skill in the art will
appreciate that alternate data service module 216 and packet data
service monitor 218 may be disposed elsewhere within mobile
communication device 116.
[0034] FIG. 4 depicts a data network 400 operable to provide
alternate data service to a mobile communication device. The
alternate data service employed may vary from one embodiment to
another. By way of example, the foregoing discussion relates to the
use of Unstructured Supplementary Services Data (USSD) as an
alternate data service, but those of skill in the art will
appreciate that other services may be employed for the same
purpose. This figure shows the elements and information paths which
are used by the alternate data service, in this case USSD, when
packet data service is not available to mobile communication device
116. Mobile communication device 116 is operable with a group of
remote PLMNs 402 via the data network 400, which includes a relay
node 404, Home PLMN (HPLMN) 406 and Visited PLMN (VPLMN) 408. HPLMN
406 incorporates GGSN 410, MSC 412 and alternate data service
server 414, which may be a USSD server. Note that a USSD server may
have other uses, such as responding to inquiries from the mobile
communication device on the number of subscribed minutes remaining,
or adding to the minutes remaining, etc. Remote PLMNs 402 are
connected to relay node 404 via a pair of separate channels 416,
418, so as to provide greater reliability by redundancy. HPLMN 406
is connected to the relay node 404 through use of two separate
channels 420, 422 for the same reason. It should be recognized,
however, that in an alternate embodiment, relay node 404 may be
integrated within a PLMN, which may be an HPLMN, VPLMN or remote
PLMN. Within the HPLMN 406, there are different points of
attachment, depending on whether packet data links or alternate
data links are used to connect to mobile communication device 116.
A hub or other device, disposed at the PLMN end of each of the data
channels 420, 422 to the relay node 404, may be used to enable both
alternate data service traffic and packet data channel-generated
traffic to be carried over the same channel to and from the relay
node 404.
[0035] There are a number of possible reasons why packet data
service may not be available to a mobile communication device 116
in a given location. The wireless networks providing service to
that location may not incorporate packet data service in any form.
Even where packet data service is provided to a location, it may
not be available to mobile communication device 116 owing to the
absence of a service level agreement between a subscriber's service
provider and any of the local wireless networks providing packet
data service to the area. The type of alternate data service
employed may vary from one application to another and from one
location to another. In one embodiment, USSD may be employed as an
alternate data service where mobile devices and PLMNs incorporate
USSD capability. The USSD service between mobile communication
device 116 and a PLMN has a peak data rate of about 600 b/s outside
of voice call or 1000 b/s with a voice call. It is, therefore,
slower than a packet connection.
[0036] In certain applications, it is possible that the alternate
data server within the PLMN may limit the size of alternate data
messages. It may, therefore, be appropriate to closely manage the
services that are provided when an alternate data service links
mobile communication device 116 and relay node 404. This management
may include limiting block size in the data transmissions to and
from mobile communication device 116, deferring transmission of
attachments or large attachments to or from mobile communication
device 116, deferring provision of browsing capability,
restrictions on the synchronization of data, blocking
user-generated messages while an alternate data session with mobile
communication device 116 is in progress.
[0037] FIG. 5 depicts a state diagram 500 illustrating the various
states within which mobile communication device 116 may be
configured according to the present disclosure. In state 502,
mobile communication device 116 is powered off or is otherwise not
in communication with wireless network 112 for some reason, such as
that communication subsystem 304 is turned off. When powered on
(state 504), mobile communication device 116 will scan the several
frequency bands that it is capable of operating in, search for a
Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), and attempt to register on an
appropriate PLMN. It is possible that there are no signals
available to mobile communication device 116 (state 506).
Alternately, there may be signals available, but no allowed PLMNs
available (state 508). If mobile communication device 116 is able
to identify an allowed PLMN, it will register on GSM, as a mobile
for GSM voice service and other GSM services. GSM does not provide
packet data service, so mobile communication device 116 will
attempt to register on the selected PLMN's packet system. This may
be, for example, GPRS, EDGE or HSDPA. If mobile communication
device 116 is successful in registering on its Home PLMN (HPLMN),
it will be provided with a PDP context (state 510). Mobile
communication device 116 will then have a packet data connection
through the PLMN's infrastructure to the link connecting the PLMN
to a trusted node. If mobile communication device 116 registers on
a PLMN which is not its HPLMN, but is a visited PLMN (VPLMN), that
PLMN will provide a connection from mobile communication device 116
to the HPLMN, and then through the HPLMN to the trusted node.
[0038] In the event that mobile communication device 116 is able to
identify an allowed PLMN, but packet data is not available (state
512), mobile communication device 116 will attempt to identify an
alternate data service. If mobile communication device 116 is able
to identify a suitable alternate data service, that alternate data
service will be activated (state 514). In this state, mobile
communication device 116 will have data service, but it may have a
lower bandwidth and a generally lower level of service as compared
to packet data service. Accordingly, packet data service is
generally considered the preferred data service within a PLMN and
will be employed whenever available. The alternate data service
will generally only be employed when packet data service is not
available.
[0039] FIG. 6 is a flow chart depicting a method of provisioning a
mobile communication device 116 for alternate data service
according to one embodiment. Process flow begins in block 600,
where a PLMN search is initiated and a timer reset. Process flow
from decision block 602 depends on whether an allowable PLMN has
been identified. If an allowable PLMN has not been identified,
process flow returns to block 600. If an allowable PLMN has been
identified, process flow proceeds to block 604. Process flow from
block 604 depends on whether packet data service has been
established. If packet data service has been established, process
flow proceeds to block 624. If packet data service has not been
established, process flow proceeds to block 606.
[0040] Process flow from block 606 depends on whether the timer,
which was reset in block 602, has expired. If the timer has not
expired, process flow returns to block 604. If the timer has
expired, process flow proceeds to block 608, where the timer is
stopped, and then on to block 610.
[0041] In block 610, mobile communication device 116 sends an
alternate data registration message to relay node 404, and process
flow proceeds to block 612, where mobile communication device 116
receives an alternate data acknowledgment from relay node 404, and
then proceeds to block 614. In block 614, mobile communication
device 116 is configured for alternate data service and the
identified PLMN, after which process flow proceeds to block
616.
[0042] In block 616, mobile communication device 116 communicates
via the alternate data service and the identified PLMN.
Periodically, mobile communication device 116 will check whether
packet service has become available, as represented by block 618.
If packet data service has become available, process flow diverts
to block 622, in which mobile communication device 116 is
configured for packet data service, and then proceeds to block 626.
If packet service is not available, process flow proceeds to block
620, in which suitable service logic provisioned in mobile
communication device 116 determines whether mobile communication
device 116 is still connected to the PLMN. If mobile communication
device 116 remains connected, process flow returns to block 616,
where communication continues. If mobile communication device 116
has become disconnected, process flow returns to block 600.
[0043] When mobile communication device 116 determines that packet
service is available, process flow proceeds through blocks 624
through 632. In block 624, the timer reset in block 600 is stopped.
In block 626, mobile communication device 116 sends a packet data
registration message to relay node 404. In block 628, mobile
communication device 116 is configured for packet data service. In
block 630, mobile communication device 116 communicates via packet
service. Decision block 632 determines whether mobile communication
device 116 remains connected to the PLMN. If mobile communication
device 116 remains connected, process flow returns to block 630,
where communication continues. If mobile communication device 116
has lost its connection with the identified PLMN, process flow
returns to 600, where mobile communication device 116 searches for
another PLMN.
[0044] FIG. 7 is a flow chart depicting normal packet process flow
and alternate data process flow. Process flow begins in block 700,
at which point mobile communication device 116 is not connected to
data service. In block 702, a registration message is sent from
mobile communication device 116 to relay node 404. Process flow
from block 704 depends on whether the message indicates the
availability of normal packet data service or alternate data
service. If normal packet data service is indicated, process flow
proceeds to block 706. If alternate data service is indicated,
process flow proceeds to block 716.
[0045] If normal packet data service has been indicated and process
flow has proceeded to block 706, relay node 404 sends a
registration acknowledgment to mobile communication device 116 and
process flow proceeds to block 708, where the relay node 404 will
communicate with mobile communication device 116 via packet
service. Process flow proceeds from block 708 to decision block
710, from which process flow proceeds depending on whether an
acknowledgment has been received from mobile communication device
116. If an acknowledgment has been received, process flow returns
to block 708, where packet data communication continues. If an
acknowledgment has not been received, process flow proceeds to
block 712, where traffic is held, and then to block 714, wherein
relay node 404 implements an appropriate recovery routine in order
to reestablish communication.
[0046] As noted above, if normal packet data has not been indicated
by mobile communication device 116, process flow proceeds to block
716, wherein an alternate data registration message is received. An
alternate data registration acknowledgment is sent in block 718.
Mobile communication device 116 is configured for alternate data
service in block 720. Process flow proceeds from block 724
depending on whether an acknowledgment has been received from
mobile communication device 116. If an acknowledgment has been
received, process flow returns to block 722 and alternate data
service continues. If an acknowledgment has not been received,
process flow proceeds to block 726, in which traffic is held, and
then to block 728, wherein relay node 404 implements a recovery
routine.
[0047] It is believed that the operation and construction of the
embodiments of the present disclosure will be apparent from the
Detailed Description set forth above. While the exemplary
embodiments shown and described may have been characterized as
being preferred, it should be readily understood that various
changes and modifications could be made therein without departing
from the scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the
following claims.
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